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UNDECIDED: Datuk Mukhriz (above) and Datuk Seri Khir will seek the Umno Youth chief post- a powerful platform for young Malay leaders. -- PHOTOS: AP, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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KUALA LUMPUR - TWO leading politicians yesterday came out firmly to say they would contest the post of Umno Youth chief in December.
One of them was the most powerful man in Selangor just four weeks ago - its former menteri besar, Datuk Seri Khir Toyo, 42.
The other is Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, 43, the youngest son of ex-premier Mahathir Mohamad.
The third man who was widely viewed as a shoo-in for the post before the March 8 general election - Mr Khairy Jamaluddin, 32 - refused to say yesterday whether he would run for the post.
The ruling coalition's poor showing at the polls has been partly blamed on Mr Khairy, the deputy Umno Youth chief, who is seen as the power behind Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.
Datuk Seri Khir and Datuk Mukhriz made known their intentions after Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Onn said on Wednesday that he would not seek re-election after 10 years in the position.
The post is a powerful platform for ambitious young Malay leaders to make their name and rise further in Malaysia's biggest political party.
Its past chiefs include Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and the opposition's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is also an ex-deputy premier.
Datuk Seri Khir told reporters at the Selangor Umno headquarters that he decided to run for the post after receiving encouraging feedback from youth members.
He added that the experience gained during his tenure as menteri besar and Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor state chief would help him lead the youth wing.
Datuk Mukhriz, an Umno Youth central council member, said he was offering himself for the position to restore support of the younger generation for the movement.
He also wanted to address the 'scared to speak up' syndrome in Umno Youth and its tendency to not focus on important issues tabled at its executive council meetings.
'What is being done by Umno Youth all this while is seen to be not fulfilling the aspirations of the younger set. We must give attention to this problem,' he said.
'Feeling apprehensive to speak up at the executive council meetings, crucial issues are brushed aside as trivialities but trivial matters are given serious attention, are also our problem.'
Under the party's nomination rules, those vying for the chief's post need to get the support of at least 20 per cent of the 191 youth divisions.
Mr Khairy said there was no reason for him to make a decision now as the polls were still months away. 'I need to get the views from the branches and divisions first. Only then will I make my decision known,' he said.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, BERNAMA
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